Four suspects face criminal charges after being arrested on suspicion of a collective effort to steal more than $30,000 worth of raw chicken from a Perdue Farms facility in Milford, Delaware.
The Milford Police Department (MPD) started an investigation on November 2, after the company reported a suspected internal theft ring.
As a result of that investigation, which lasted several weeks, MPD officers obtained warrants for the arrest of four people. Those people and their charges are:
- Lloyd K. Dukes, 44, Felton, Delaware, was charged with seven counts of theft worth $1,500 or greater, and conspiracy in the second degree.
- Lorenzo Jones Jr., 40, Dover, Delaware, was charged with seven counts of theft worth $1,500 or greater, and conspiracy in the second degree.
- Kenneth W. Smith, Felton, was charged with five counts of theft worth $1,500 or greater, and conspiracy in the second degree.
- Leroya Buck, 37, Dover, was charged with two counts of theft worth $1,500 or greater, and conspiracy in the second degree.
According to a press release from the MPD, through investigative means, detectives learned that on numerous occasions Jones and Dukes, with the assistance of Smith, removed cases of raw chicken from the plant. Jones and Dukes would then drive the cases of chicken to a predetermined location off Perdue’s property, where Buck would pick them up in a refrigerated box truck.
Buck and Dukes were arrested on November 17, while Jones was arrested on day later. Smith was arrested on November 21.
Dukes, Smith and Buck were arraigned at the Justice of the Peace Court 2 and released on their own recognizance, while Jones was also arraigned at that court, where he was issued a secure bail, MPD stated.
All four suspects are to have no contact with Perdue Farms.
The four defendants will be slated for upcoming preliminary hearings in at the Kent County Court of Common Pleas.
